Creative, Soulful little things
Every January brings with it a new invitation. My January has invited me to rest, to play, to exercise mindful awareness, to plan, to prepare. Lot’s of invitations, and lots of feelings and emotions. My memories and nostalgia take shape as hopeful intentions when met in mindful reflection. Some intentions feel like lofty goals, some feel overwhelming… it’s no wonder that some people forgo making resolutions at all this time of year. For me, resolutions and intentions are a cyclical process… less inspired by a date on a calendar, and more inspired by the fact that I’m still alive. My goals and intentions and hopes and dreams are all little opportunities for me to use this breath and this heartbeat to ask myself, “why not take that alive feeling up a notch?”
My intentions this year feel different. More resolute. A little less expansive, a lot more organized. My list isn’t as scary as the year behind me, and that alone is something to be grateful for.
Don’t be mistaken, though (now would be a perfect time to warn you that I do not sugar coat anything when I write) - I still have incredible fears, doubts, questions, and concerns. Any human being would. And should, in my opinion. It makes things bigger, and when things are bigger, there’s more meaning and purpose behind it. I happen to be a human who has navigated at-times debilitating anxiety, and most everything feels big to me all the time. I’ve learned to harness some good out of it, though. I’ve realized that sweating the small stuff often leaves me with a plan, a solution, action (immediate or eventual), or, worst case scenario - a lesson to learn from. I’ve also realized that my nerves, my feelings, my emotions… they’re all in cahoots, and they’re ALL trying to tell me something. I bring my fears, my doubts, my questions, and my heart to the altar in my mind for reflection. I consider my life, in all its chapters and all its roles, and continue to strive toward new balance amongst the ever shifting lives all around us. There is a little trick to my reflections, and it’s to try to notice all the small things around me, the little, tiny, fraction-of-a-moment things that bring joy, clarity, hope, purpose, meaning, and wonder.
It’s curious to me, the things that bring about joy, clarity, hope, purpose, meaning and wonder are not always big, noticeable, grandiose things. They are not always expansive, or even remarkably life-changing. Sometimes, it looks like deep rest. It’s, rather, the little moments, and the little things throughout each day that get us through, nudging one foot in front of the other, keeping air in our lungs and bodies moving throughout time and space. These little things we do, the words we speak, what we feel and experience, together and alone… these little things, little moments, little brush strokes that make up the mural of our lives… they have the power to shape who we are, who we’d like to be, and who we are becoming.
Lots of little things brought me here. SO very many little things.
I happen to find remarkable peace in the noticing of these little things. I mean, why not? Why not remember, recount, and record these blips of time and experience that catch our eye, our attention, our heart? These blips are moments in the stories of our lives. Some may be more memorable and meaningful than others, but they’re all valuable snippets all the same.
A dear, sweet friend posed a soul provoking question - what do you do that makes you lose time? For me, in my human experience, writing makes time irrelevant. My words follow no rules, and know no bounds. Sometimes in the form of poetry, sometimes a soulful storyteller, my words flow through me. They come at all hours, impatient and insistent, or they do not come at all, marking seasons during which I listen, I reflect, and I continue to fully witness and embody and exist and partake in the life all around me… THIS life. This one wild, beautiful, heart achingly resilient life.
I notice little things every single day, and I write about them to make sense and make peace with it all. I believe there is a reason why it’s taken me this long to start this blog, and I’m committing to finding out here, with you. Read on if you feel called to, or don’t if you don’t. What matters most at the end of each day is that you honor YOU and YOUR life.
This is me honoring mine…
Welcome to the Heart Craft Studio blog.
It is my intention to explore my soul in these entries, but also to share this space with other creatives too (if you’d like to explore your own creative soul here, you know where to find me!). I plan to write about creativity, the process and life behind it, creative business ownership, and being a mom with a big, crazy dream.
The desire and hope and professional compass of Heart Craft Studio is set and dedicated to shifting the boundaries of creativity, expression, community, and what an inclusive, safe space looks like through offering creative and soulful opportunities for ALL ages and ALL abilities. We will take a closer look at our special events, classes, and workshops with fun behind-the-scenes experiences… all the little things day to day around here!
We also excited to feature local artists, makers, and creative community shapers as well.
You’ve gotta start somewhere, so here we are. Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Danielle. I’m SO glad, honored, grateful, and excited that you’re here. Looking forward to sharing lots of little things here with you soon - if you’re interested in reading about creative, soulful little things, here is a little nudge of an invitation to sign up for more new blogs + updates here.
-dv<3
